CHAPTER 1
The Magellan MSS is a Direcway Dish mounted on a motorized mount. To better
understand what the MSS is and isn't, we will first look at just the Direcway
system.
d. Basics on Direcway Satellite Equipment
The Direcway system is comprised of these items:
1. The Satellite Dish & Radio Electronics on the dish
The LNB (low noise block) RECEIVES the satellite signal from space.
The ODU (out door unit) TRANSMITTS to the satellite in orbit.
The dish itself is sometimes called the REFLECTOR because it reflects
the signal to and from the LNB to the satellite.
Notice how the signal comes in from a higher angle than the
angle of the satellite arm? It is good to know the satellite is higher
in orbit than the are points. (About 15 degrees).
- The Satellite Dish & electronics on the dish
- The Direcway Modem
End of Section
2. The Direcway Satellite Internet Modem (IRU)
The LNB
(Low Noise Block)
Receives the
satellite signal
The ODU
transmitts to
the orbiting
satellite.
The Direcway modem is somtimes referred to as an IRU for Indoor
Receive Unit.
Their are two coax (RG-6) cables that come from the satellite dish
and connect to the Satellite In and Satellite Out connectors. Satellite
In connects directly to the Dish LNB while the Satellite Out (Transmitt)
connects to the ODU on the dish.
LAN1 is the Ethernet Connection that provide a connection to
the Internet when the dish is locked on satellite, or to just the modem
status screen that can be reached by typing 192.168.1.1 on any
connected browser window. You may connect your computer directly
to the Direcway modem with an Ethernet cable, but normally this
will connect to the router.
The only other needed connection is power. Direcway modems come
with a power supply that plugs into 110 AC wall current. There is no
power switch on the Direcway modem. When the modem is plugged in, it is on... The only way to turn it off is to unplug it, or turn off the power switch on the power bar.
Direcway dishes come in several sizes. The most common are the .74 meter, the .98
meter, and the 1.2 meter. The number represents the acutal square meters used and
not the diameter of the dish.
Larges dishes allow for faster Direcway Bandwidth Packages (Plus and Premium).
Larger dishes also increase signal strength, so bad weather does not affect them as
much as smaller dishes.
The base on which the 1.2 meter and the .98 meters are mounted to are called a
"Non-Penetrating Roof Mount" because there dish is mounted in place by weight
of the bricks, and no holes or screws are dilled in the roof. Most building owners
will now allow holes in the roof, so a non-pen roof mount is the solution.
The Magellan currently uses a Direcway .74 meter dish.
